wright



v(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1. T. WRIGHT. SNOW SWEEPER AND MELTER.

No. 343,353. Patented June 8, 1886.

TOR.

[NI/EN I A l 4 5 ATTORNEY WITNESSES;

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. WRIGHT.

SNOW SWEEPBR AND MELTBR.

Patented June 8., 1886.

HVVENTOR A TTORNEY (No Model.) 4 Shets-Sheet 4.

. T. WRIGHT.

SNOW SWEEPBR AND MELT-BR. No. 343,353. Patented June 8, 1886.

WITNESSES:

PETERS. Pholo-Lithogzapher. Washinglnn. n. c.

UNITED "STATES PATENT 'OFFICEO THOMAS WRIGHT, or CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

SNOW SWE'EPER AND MELTER.

SESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,353, dated June8, 1886.

Application filed January 27, 1886. Serial No. 189,892. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Y Be it known that I, THOMAS WRIGHT, aciti- 1 tion. sweeping-brush, cylinder, driving-axle of the sweeper, andpower-transmitting devices for the brush and condenser. Fig. 5 is anelevation, partly sectional, drawn to an enlarged scale, of one of theadjustable bearings for the sweeping-brush and for the cylinder orcondenser and a part of the frame or support for said bearing; and Fig.6 is a horizontal section of same.

My invention has relation to snow-sweeping vehicles or devices which areparticularly adapted for street-railway and other purposes; and it hasfor its object to sweep the snow off of the street or roadway intoarotary condenser or chamber wherein the snow is either wholly orpartially condensed into water, then emptying the partially-condensedsnow or the condensations into a chamber wherein the condensation iscompletely, if not already, effected, and then to either retain thewater of condensation in the deviceor vehicle and draw it offperiodically 'or permit it to drain away from the vehicle or devicecontinuously.

My invention accordingly consists of the combination, construction, andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, havingreference particularly to a rotating sweeping-brush, a rota y condenseror cylinderfconnected with a'heating device, a heatingchamber backofsaid condenser for receiving the contents of the latter, and a chamberfor containing the water of condensation, from which it is drawn off.periodically or permitted to drip or drain continuously, and toadjustablebearings for the sweeping-brush and rotary condenser orcylinder, and power-transmitting devicesinterposedbetween said sweep-Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at or near one side of the Fig. 4 is atransverse section showing,

ing-brush, condenser, and one of the axles of the vehicle.

In the drawings, A represents a car or vehicle, either mounted upontrucks a, as shown in Fig.1, or otherwise having its wheels at tachedthereto, as indicated in'Figs. 2 and 3.

One of the axles, a, of the vehicle is the driving-axle, havingpreferably a centrally-located pulley, (1 which is in gear by means of arope or chain, a, with a like pulley, b, on a countershaft, B, havingsuitable bearings, b, in the sides a" of the vehicle, as more plainlyindi cated in Fig.. 4.

Preferably at the forward end of the car is placed a rotary sweepingbrush, 0, of any suitable construction, the shaft 0 of which is'journaled in boXes or bearings c, composed of two plates, 0 and c",(seen more plainly in Figs. 5 and 6,) suitably screwed or otherwisefastened together, as indicated at 0 to form edge grooves c, which areadapted to the sides (Z of an elongated slot, (1, formed in the lowerends of frames or supports D for the bearings c of the brush-shaft C.These frames are suitably fastened to the interior sides of the vehicle,as more plainly shown in Fig. 4.

At the upper end of the frames Dare lugs or bearings d"; and upon theplates 0 of each bearing 0 isa lug, c, which is threaded to engage withthe screw portion f of a rod, F, one for each bearing. which passes upthrough lugs d on frames D. The lower ends of rods F have step or othersuitable bearings, f, in lugs d on the lower ends of frames D, and theirupper ends are provided with miter or bevel wheels (1 which mesh withlike wheels 9 upon a counter-shaft, G, having suitable bearings in thesides of the vehicle, (see Fig. 2,) and a hand-wheel, 9', so that byturning the latter in either direction the rods F are rotated to causetheir threaded por tions f to raise or lowerthe bearings c in slots dfor the purpose of either elevating or lowering the brush 0 to and fromthe roadway to either regulatethe extent or depth of sweeping or to takeup wear of the brush. At or near the ends of shaft B are grooved orother suitable drivingwheels, If If, for transmitting power tobrush-shaft G by means of belts or chains C engaging with like pulleys cc on the ends of shaft 0. As the brush and its shaft-bearings arevertically adjustable, the chains or belts 0 must be in gear withpulleys c in such manner that the belts or chains 0" will not slack orsag when the brush is raised and will not become taut when the brush islowered. To provide for this described result, I secureidlerwheels orgroovepulleys C to the lower ends of the frames D, or said pulleys maybe otherwise located on the frames, so as to be in line with the shaftpulleys or wheels 0, and coil or pass one side, U3, of the ropes orchains completely or once around the pulleys c, and then pass the sameunder or over the idler pulleys or wheels C. as plainly shown in sectionof Fig. 2, and also in Fig. 4.

G of chains or belting 0 without producing any slack or tightening thesame.

To the rear of brush 0, and preferably in as close proximity to thebrush as it is possible to get without touching it, is placed a hollowrotary metal wheel or cylinder, H, of a length equal, ornearly equal, tothat of the sweepingbrush. This cylinder has suitable hollow trunnionsor shafts, h h, journaled in bearings 7t, adjustable or sliding inframes H in the manner above described for the brush-shaft bearings 0,so that the cylinder H is adapted to be raised or 1oweredthat is to say,the bearings h are composed of two plates suit ably screwed together,having side grooves adapted to elongated slots h in the lower ends offrames H, one of the plates of each bearing it having a threaded lug, h,which engages with a screw-rod, H one for each bearing h, each of whichrods passes through a lug, h, on the upper end of the respective frameH, upon which it is mounted, and has a step-bearing, If, in a lug, It,at the bottom of the frames, and also at its upper end a bevel-wheel, h,which engages with a like wheel, h", on a counter-shaft, 11, havingsuitable bearings in the sides of the vehicle, and a hand-wheel, h, bymeans of which the cylinder is raised or lowered, as desired.

Upon the cylinder-shaft, at each end, are fastened grooved or othersuitable wheels or pulleys, It which are-connected by chains or belts'13 to like pulleys or wheels 1) upon the shaft B, and one side of eachof these chains or beltsz' is coiled once around the pulleys h", andthen passed under or over idler-pulleys h", secured to frames H, asabove described for chains or belts G and pulleys c, to permit thecylinder H and its shaft to be either raised or lowered without slackingor tightening said belts or chains; hence both the brush 0 and cylinderH can be raised or lowered without adjustment of theirpower-transmitting devices.

The power-transmitting devices or the belts and chains i for cylinder Hare arranged to rotate it in direction opposite to that in which thebrush is rotated, for a purpose hereinafter As the brush and its shaftis either raised or lowered the wheels or pulleys c revolve within thecoil of chain or belting around them to ride up or downupon the sidedescribed, the direction of rotation of said parts being indicated byarrows at and 3/, respectively, (see Fig. 3,) and as the sweepingbrush 0is preferably rotated at a greater speed than is the cylinder H thepulleys I) on shaft B for driving the brush are shown of a largerdiameter than that for the pulleys b on said shaft for driving thecylinder. This difference in diameter may, however, be varied orregulated as desired, according to the work to be accomplished.

Upon the circumference of the cylinder are formed longitudinal bucketsor receptacles h", and to one end of its shaft is suitably swiveled orcoupled a flexible or partly yielding and partly rigid pipe, n, whichleads to a steam, hot-air, water, or other heating furnace, N,preferably located at the rear end of the car, and to the other end ofsaid shaft is likewise swiveled a similar pipe, at, leading to a steam,hot-air, water, or other heating jacket, L, formed upon the floor and onthe end and sides of achamber, M, so as to surround it,or nearly so, andwhich is located between the cylinder H and the furnace N, as moreplainly shown in Fig. 3. The floor m of chamber M, or the top of itsbottom heating-jacket, l, inclines downwardly from the cylinderrearward] y, and has an outlet-pipe, m, leading i nto a receptacle ortank, 0, located just below or adjacent to the floor'heating jacket I,and the latter and the tank 0 are connected by a pipe, '0, having acheck or stop valve, 0'. The heating-jacket L is connected by a pipe, l,having cock Z, with the heating-furnace N, and if the latter be a steamor hotwater furnace a water tank or reservoir, P, is provided, which isprefera bly placed so as to form the roof of chamber M, as indicated inFig. 3, and connected bya pipe, 12, with furnace N.

If desired, an outlet or vent, 112?, may be formed in the roof of thecar, (see Fig. 3,) for escape of vapor or steam from chamber M, and tank0 is provided with an outlet-pipe, o, and chamber M has a cleaning-outopening, m.

The operation is as follows: The hot air or steam from furnace or boilerN is circulated by way of pipe at to the interior of cylinder H and byway of pipe n to jacket L, and, if desired, by way of pipe 0, when itsvalve is open, to tank 0, and also by way of pipe 1' to said jacket andtank, to warm or render hot the metal cylinder and the sides and bottomof chamber, which are also preferably made of metal. The heating ofchamber M keeps the water in tank P at a high temperature, to preventfreezing and for economizing in the amount of fuel required for thefurnace or boiler N. The snow swept by the brush into the buckets ofcylinder H melts more or less as it is carried around by the cylinder,so that as each successive bucket arrivesat or near to the floor ofchamber M the partially-melted snow slides out of the buckets intochamber M, or the buckets emptythemselves at the proper time, they beingmade or fixed at an angle, as shown, to do so. The snow not melted inthe cylinder is fully condensed or melted. afterit is deposited inchamber M, and

the water of condensation passes through pipe m into tank 0, and ifretained therein is kept warm and cannot freeze by reason of theproximity of said tank to heating jacket L, and also by the hot air orsteam passing into it from the pipe 0. The water of condensation may bedrawn off periodically along the route of sweeping by stopping thevehicle at sewerinlets or other suitable places and leading such waterby attaching a hose to outlet-pipe of to the inlet, or, if desired, thewater of condensation may be permitted to continuously overflow or drainaway from tank 0 through pipe 0, in which case it may form theoutlet-pipe of chamber M, and the tank 0 and pipe 0 are then dispensedwith. (See Fig. 1.)

As the chamber M has a vent, m undue heating of the same or the parts ofthe vehicle or the accumulation of vapor therein is avoided.

The cylinder H is preferably provided with a drip or drain cock, 1", fordrawing off any water of condensation collecting therein when in use.(See Fig. 4.)

I do not confine myself to the particular arrangement and constructionof the various parts comprising my improvements,.as it is obvious thatthey may bedifferently arranged and constructed without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

WVhat I claim is-- 1. A snow-sweeping vehicle or device having a rotarysweeping-brush, a rotary cylinder for receiving the sweepings, and aheating device for said cylinder, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. A snow-sweeping vehicle having a rotary sweeping-brush, a rotarycylinder for receiving the sweepings, a heating device for saidcylinder, a condensing'chamber, and heating devices for the latter,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,in asnow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a rotarysweeping-brush, a rotary cylinder, a condensing-chamber, and a heatingdevice for said cylinder and chamber, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,in a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a rotarysweeping-brush, a rotary cylinder, a condensing chamber, aheatingfurnace for said cylinder and condensingchamber, and a reservoirfor the water of condensation having an outlet-pipe, substantially asset forth.

5. The combination,in asnow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a rotary brush,a rotary cylinder for receiving and more or less melting the snow orsweepings, bearings for said brush and cylinder, and means for adjustingor raising and lowering said hearings to elevate or depress said brushand cylinder, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination,in a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, of a driving-axle,a counter-shaft in gear with said axle, a rotary sweeping-brush,

driving belt or chain one side of which is passed or coiled once aroundthe driving-pulley on the brush and over or under an idlerv pulley, abracket or support for the brush and idler-pulley, and actuating devicesfor raising or lowering the brush without producing slack or tension ofits driving-belt, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a rotary brush having bearings adjustable to raiseand lower the brushpulleys or wheels on said shaft, idlerpulleys securedto the frames supporting the bearings and chains or belts having oneside coiled once around the pulley on said shaft and passing under orover the idler-pulleys, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a snow sweeping machine, the rotary cylinder H, having adjustablebearings, a shaft having pulleys or wheels on each end, frames orsupports for said bearings, idler-wheels on said frames, and drivingbelts or chains each of which have one side coiled once around one ofthe pulleys on said shaft and engaging or passing around one of theidler-wheels, as set forth.

10. In a snow-sweeping machine, the combination of a rotating hollowcylinder having outside rim or circumferential buckets placed lengthwiseof the cylinder, a heating device for the latter, and a rotary brush forsweeping the snow into the cylinder-buckets, substantially as shown anddescribed.

11. The combination of a shaft having driving pulleys or wheels at eachend, sliding bearings for said shaft, frames or supports, andadjusting-screws for said bearings, an idler-pulley attached to each ofsaid frames, and driving belts or chains for each pulley on said shaft,arranged to have one of their sides coiled once around a pulley on saidshaft and passed under or over one of the idler-pulleys .to permit theshaft to be raised or lowered without slacking or tightening the belt,substantially as set forth.

12. In a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, the combination of a rotarysweeping-brush, means for raising and lowering it, a rotary snowreceiving and melting cylinder, means for] rais- IIO ing and loweringit, a condensing-chamber, a

water-of-condensation reservoir, a pipeconnection between saidchamberarid reservoir, a heating device for the two latter and for thecylinder, substantially as set forth.

13. In a snow-sweeping machine, the combination, with a rotating brushand a cylinder for receiving and melting the snow, of acondensing-chamber having at its roof a watertank, and on its sides,bottom, and rear end heating-jackets, a heating device or furnace,

and connection between it and said cylinder and jackets, substantiallyas shown and described.

14. A snow-sweeping ear or vehicle having a heating furnace or boiler, arotary cylinder having buckets on its periphery, a stationarycondensing-chamber having bottom, side, and end heating-jackets,connection between said chambers and the furnace or boiler, and areservoir for receiving the water of condensation from said chamber, asset forth.

15. In a snow-sweqpingcar or vehicle, the combination of chamber M,having bottom, side, and end heating-jackets, L, tank 0, and valve-pipeconnection between said tanks and jackets, substantially as shown anddescribed.

16. In a snow-sweeping ear or vehicle, the combination, with a rotarybrush, of a cylinder having buckets on its rim, pipe-connection with aheating-furnace, and a drip-cock, r, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a snow-sweeping ear or vehicle, the condensing-chamber havingoutlet m for the water of condensation and air-vent of, substantially asset forth.

18. In a snow-sweeping machine or vehicle, a tank, 0, for receiving thewater of condensation, having an outlet, 0' and a heating device forsaid tank, substantially as shown and described.

19. In a snow-sweeping car or vehicle, the combination of a rotary andvertically-adjustable sweepingbrush, a rotary snow receiving and meltingcylinder, a condensing-chamber, a tank for receiving the water ofcondensa tion, and a heating device for said cylinder, chamber, andtank, substantially as set forth.

20. A snowsweeper and melter composed of a car-body having a rotatingbrush, rotary and stationary snow receiving and melting chambers, and afurnace or heating device for said chambers, substantially as set forth.

21. In a snow sweeper and melter, a rotary and vertieally'adj ustablesweeping-brush, and a rotary cylinder for receiving and more or lessmelting the snow, and power-transmitting devices for revolving saidbrush and cylinder in opposite directions, as set forth.

22. In-a snow sweeper and melter, a rotating cylinder having buckets onits face or periphery, and a central or interior heatingchamber, as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS YVRIGHT.

\Vitnesses:

' J. VAN STAvOREN, Uims. F. VAN IIORN...

